We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.

Granite countertops have spent the better part of the past decade in the spotlight. (As far as ubiquitous kitchen features go, the material practically reached stainless steel appliance status.) Recently, with fancy marbles and other man-made alternatives becoming more popular, we assumed the composite stone had finally lost its luster. Prepare to be bewildered: A new survey suggests homeowners aren’t ready to say goodbye to this “dated” trend yet. 

Erie Insurance recently set out to debunk a few myths about what’s hot and what’s not in new homes. Of the 500 U.S. homeowners (ages 28 to 60) they interviewed, 40 percent said they would choose granite for the kitchen if they were designing a fresh space, while only 23 percent said they would go with quartz. We were surprised—the latter is a go-to choice for designers who want the look of natural stone without all the upkeep. Given there’s no question that we will continue to see granite reign supreme in the future, the pressing matter is how do you make it look cool? 

Julia and Chris Marcum, the couple behind the interiors blog Chris Loves Julia, gave their granite countertops an edge by painting the cabinets and backsplash in the room a chameleon green-gray (Thunderous by Sherwin-Williams). Going a little darker on the walls helps the rustic stone blend into the background. Another trick: If your counters have hints of caramel, bring in warm wood accents (the Marcums added a waterfall cutting board to their island) to play off of the brown tones. Both rock-solid ideas, if you ask us.

See more stories like this:  This Is the Push You Need to Get Butcher Block Counters A Brilliant Use for Leftover Kitchen Countertop Stone A Crash Course in Choosing Kitchen Countertops